PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST for Schools

PAPER 1 Reading and Writing Sample Paper Time 1 hour 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.

Write your name, Centre number and candidate number on your answer sheet if they are not already there.

Read ALL the instructions carefully.

Answer all the questions.

Read the instructions on the answer sheets.

Write your answers on the answer sheets. Use a pencil.

You must complete the answer sheets within the time limit.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

READING Questions 1 ñ 35 carry one mark.

WRITING

Questions 1 ñ 5 carry one mark.

Part 2 (Question 6) carries five marks.

Part 3 (Question 7 or 8) carries fifteen marks.

© UCLES 2009

2

Reading ● Part 1 Questions 1 ñ 5 Look at the text in each question. What does it say? Mark the correct letter A, B or C on your answer sheet. Example: 0 The advert says the computer game

A is almost new and in good condition.

B does not work on the sellerís computer.

C is only suitable for younger players.

Answer: 0 A B C

1 What should Peter do?

A let Stefan know if he is delayed

B tell Stefan which film he wants to watch

C wait for Stefan inside the cinema

2 A Lina would like to know if Natasha is going to

do her history homework later this evening.

B Lina wants to compare the notes she wrote about the history homework with Natashaís.

C Lina hopes she can look at the information Natasha has for the history homework.

Rainforest Computer Game

2ñ4 players Bought last month

Played once ñ works perfectly Phone Tom: 255324

FOR SALE

3 Turn Over ►

3 Why has Monica written the email?

A to check if Anna is going on the trip

B to ask Anna to book places on the trip

C to remind Anna about the date of the trip

4 A The swimming competition will last for one

hour.

B All swimmers should get some practice before Saturday.

C There is an opportunity to swim before the competition starts.

5 What must Zoe do?

A Get ready for the dance class before Emilyís mother arrives.

B Ask Emilyís mother for a lift to the dance class.

C Collect her things for the dance class from Emilyís mother.

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Reading ● Part 3 Questions 11 ñ 20 Look at the sentences below about a comedy club for young people, called Comedy Kids. Read the text on the opposite page to decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, mark A on your answer sheet. If it is not correct, mark B on your answer sheet. 11 Comedy Kids operates a number of internationally-based clubs for young people.

12 Comedy Kids comedians have had as much experience working with children as with adults.

13 According to John Winterton, he is the first ever young peopleís stand-up comedian.

14 John looks like most peopleís idea of a typical entertainer for young people.

15 Comedy Kids will hold special parties at their clubs for young people if requested.

16 A lot of Comedy Kids comedians have the right qualities for performing at young peopleís parties.

17 Guests at Comedy Kids parties are invited to perform if they wish.

18 Comedy Kids have discovered lots of good young comedians who have not been trained.

19 In a yearís time thereíll be more classes available for young people wanting to be comedians.

20 Comedy Kids prefer it if the young people who join them are already quite confident.

7 Turn Over ►

Comedy Kids

Do you enjoy watching comedy? Do all your friends at school think

you tell great jokes? Then why not come and see whatís happening

at Comedy Kids?

Comedy Kids own comedy clubs in several countries that are run

just for young people aged 10-15. Theyíre real clubs with real

comedians, who are just as familiar with working in adult comedy

clubs as they are working with children. But donít take our word for

it ñ come and see for yourself!

The Comedy Kids company was set up by John Winterton, who says that no-one had thought of

being a stand-up comedian for young people until he came along. In fact, his act quickly became so

popular that he soon found lots of other comedians who wanted to join his company and perform for

families and young people. And if you think, as many others do, that a young peopleís comedian

leaps on stage in a brightly-coloured costume and big red nose ñ think again. John usually appears

dressed in a cool black jacket and trousers ñ more like a Hollywood movie star than a circus clown!

If youíre having a party at home Comedy Kids can come and perform for you there at your party ñ

just ask! Of course, itís not the same as performing on stage, so weíre always looking for comedians

in the clubs who are good at working with small numbers of young people ñ and weíve discovered

there arenít many of them about! But the ones we have found are brilliant. Your very own

comedian will also help you to tell your guests some jokes and silly stories ñ and they can join in

too, if they want! Itíll be fun ñ and very different from any party youíve ever had before!

Here at Comedy Kids, itís not just about the adults telling the jokes. We also have very short ëopen

spotsí where young people get the chance to perform. But weíve yet to find someone who can do

that without preparation, so weíve set up the worldís first ëComedy Classesí to teach young people

how to tell jokes on stage. At the moment our classes are only monthly, but weíre planning to start a

number of others over the coming year. So if you want to be a comedian but donít want to wait until

you grow up, this is where you can do it. And if youíre creative but feel youíre lacking in the

confidence to speak up, we can certainly help. Weíll listen to what you want to do, and try to make

it happen.

So what are you waiting for? Come and join Comedy Kids!

10

Reading ● Part 5

Questions 26 ñ 35 Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space. For each question, mark the correct letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet. Example: 0 A with B for C by D on

Answer: 0 A B C D

Superheroes A superhero is a fictional character (0) ÖÖÖÖ special powers. (26) ÖÖÖÖ

the first Superman story was written in the USA in 1938, superheroes have

(27) ÖÖÖÖ in various comic books around the world. But more recently

they have (28) ÖÖÖÖ better known as film characters.

(29) ÖÖÖÖ superhero powers vary widely, superhuman strength and the

ability to fly are common. (30) ÖÖÖÖ superheroes do not have special

powers but have (31) ÖÖÖÖ other important abilities. In order to protect

friends and family, a superheroís identity is normally (32) ÖÖÖÖ secret,

which often means superheroes have a complicated double life.

(33) ÖÖÖÖ have been successful superheroes in countries other than the

USA. Examples (34) ÖÖÖÖ Cybersix from Argentina and the heroes of AK

Comics from Egypt. Japan is the only country that has created as many

superhero characters as the USA. However, most Japanese superheroes are

short-lived. While American entertainment companies reinvent superheroes,

(35) ÖÖÖÖ they will stay popular, Japanese companies frequently introduce

new characters.

11 Turn Over ►

26 A Until B Since C From D Before

27 A shown B entered C come D appeared

28 A become B returned C changed D grown

29 A Because B If C Although D So

30 A Each B Some C Another D Both

31 A made B increased C prepared D developed

32 A held B put C kept D got

33 A These B That C There D Those

34 A consist B involve C contain D include

35 A hoping B requiring C needing D asking

13 Turn Over ►

Writing ● Part 2 Question 6 You have just returned from a weekís holiday staying at the home of your British friend, Sam. Write a card to your friend, Sam. In your card, you should: ! tell Sam about your journey back to your home ! say what you enjoyed most about your stay ! ask Sam to visit you. Write 35-45 words on your answer sheet.

Sample answers with examinercomments for Sample Paper 1

Part 2Candidate A

Sam,I very like the week’s holiday staying at your homevery much. I really enjoyed swimming with you in thesea, it was fun. But my journey home was awful, Ihad to stay in a plane for twenty hours. Hey! Whydon’t you come to visit my place next summer? I lookforward for it!Thu

EXAMINER COMMENTS

5 marks

All three content elements are covered appropriately – picking

out one good experience answers “what you enjoyed most”.

Errors are present but do not affect the clarity of the

communication.

Candidate B

Hi Sam,The journey back home was so boring. I didn’t want tocome back to my house. I really love the time withyou, but my favourite time was when we went to thelake. The next holidays you have to come to my house.Love,Fernanda

EXAMINER COMMENTS

4 marks

All three content elements are included, although we do not

learn enough about the journey home. Despite one tense error

the message is communicated successfully, on the whole.

Candidate C

Hi, Sam. I good journey home. I journey home on thebus. In next year you mast to visit me. It wasenjoyed about visit you.How are you? I’m happy, very happy! London is abeauteful citti. I will phoning you.By, Lera

EXAMINER COMMENTS

3 marks

All three content elements have been attempted, but the

amount of error means that some effort is required by the

reader to understand the message.

Candidate D

Dear Sam,I wanted to say that I’m well. I had very niceholidays. This holidays were super. I want to go to youagain. I want to see places of interest again. I want tosee you too!Please write me how are you. What is the wather inLondon. I’m waiting to your answer.Valeria

EXAMINER COMMENTS

2 marks

The candidate has said enough about the holiday with Sam to

cover that point, but has not mentioned the journey home or

offered an invitation.

Part 3 – StoryCandidate A

Jo looked at the map and decided to go left. Herealised he was alone in the desert. He couldn’t imaginewhat would happen to him. A pair of poisonus snakeswere in front of him, and he decided to escape, but thetwo creatures were always opposite him. Suddenly hesaw a person walking on the sand, which shouted toJo, who was very frightened. Jo ran as fast as hecould and he reached the man. They stopped walkingafter two minutes because they saw a car, but thesnakes reached Jo, they bit him and … Jo woke up. Itwas only a dream.

EXAMINER COMMENTS

Band 5

This is a very good attempt with confident and ambitious

writing and a wide range of structures, for example ‘He

couldn’t imagine what would happen to him’ and ‘as fast as

he could’. Well organised narrative with chronological linking,

for example ‘Suddenly’ and ‘after two minutes’. Errors are

minor and non-impeding: ‘poisonus’ and ‘which shouted’.